Overview
Interesting Facts
Common Names
Common Names in English:
Nodding Groundsel, Nodding Ragwort
Description
Family Compositae
The largest family of flowering plants , the Compositae (Asteraceae), comprising about 1,100 genera and more than 20,000 species and characterized by many small flowers arranged in a head looking like a single flower and subtended by an involucre of bracts. A head may consist of both ray flowers and disk flowers, as in the sunflower, of disk flowers only, as in the burdock, or of ray flowers only, as in the dandelion.
Tribe Senecioneae
The Senecioneae are a tribe of closely related genera that can be recognized most readily by the nature of the pappus and the involucral bracts or phyllaries. The phyllaries are basically in one well developed, often partially or wholly connate series of equal length that closely envelope the head . Frequently there are a few, very much smaller and mostly randomly distributed, often necrotic-tipped bracts near the base of the main series. The pappus is of fine, soft, often pure white capillary hairs . Heads may be either discoid or radiate . -- Gerald Carr.
Genus Senecio
Annuals
, biennials, perennials
, subshrubs
, or shrubs
, 5-100(-250+) cm (perennating
bases
taprooted, fibrous-rooted, branched caudices, or suberect to creeping
rhizomes; roots
often fleshy
, seldom branched; herbage
glabrous
or hairy
, often glabrescent
at flowering) . Stems single or clustered, erect
to lax
(simple
or branched) . Leaves basal and/or cauline; alternate; petiolate
or sessile (bases sometimes clasping
) ; blades
subpalmately to pinnately nerved, mostly ovate
or deltate to oblanceolate
, lanceolate, linear
, or filiform
(and most intermediate shapes
), rarely suborbiculate (sometimes palmately or pinnately lobed to 2-3-pinnatifid), ultimate
margins
entire or denticulate
to serrate or toothed
(sometimes with relatively many callous
denticles
or teeth), faces
glabrous or hairy (usually arachnose to tomentose
, often glabrescent) . Heads (sometimes nodding
) usually radiate
or discoid
(rarely quasi-disciform), usually in corymbiform
to cymiform, sometimes paniculiform
or racemiform
, arrays (sometimes from axils of distal leaves), sometimes borne singly. Calyculi usually of 1-8+ bractlets
(bractlets often intergrading with distal peduncular bracts, mostly 1 / 5 - 1 / 2 + times phyllaries), sometimes 0. Involucres mostly cylindric
or turbinate
to campanulate
, 5-15(-40) mm diam. Phyllaries persistent
, usually ± 5, 8, 13, or 21 [34] in (1-) 2 series, distinct
(margins interlocking), erect (often reflexed
in fruit), mostly oblong
to lanceolate or linear, subequal
or equal, margins usually scarious
. Receptacles flat to convex
, foveolate, epaleate. Ray florets usually ± 5, 8, 13, or 21 [34], pistillate
, fertile
, sometimes 0; corollas usually yellow, sometimes ochroleucous
or white, rarely reddish to purplish (laminae
sometimes barely surpassing
phyllaries; peripheral pistillate florets usually 0, sometimes 1-8+; corollas usually yellow, sometimes ochroleucous or white) . Disc florets (5-) 13-80+, bisexual
, fertile; corollas usually yellow, rarely ochroleucous, white, reddish, or purplish, tubes
shorter than to equaling campanulate throats, lobes
5, erect to recurved, usually ± deltate; style branches stigmatic
in 2 lines
, apices usually truncate-penicillate. Cypselae cylindric or prismatic
, usually 5-ribbed or -angled, glabrous or hairy (especially on ribs
or angles
, hairs
sometimes myxogenic) ; pappi usually persistent (fragile), sometimes readily falling, of 30-80+, white to stramineous
, barbellulate
to smooth
bristles
. x = 10.
Species 1000+: nearly worldwide, mostly in warm-temperate, subtropical
, and tropical regions
at mid and upper elevations
.
The concept of Senecio in traditional North American floristics stems from nineteenth century botanists who saw the genus as a diverse
assemblage
held together by similar morphologies of the heads
and florets
. Studies in the past two decades have shown Senecio in the broad sense to be a collection
of separate lineages
; a better taxonomy is to be had by treating the lineages as genera. Some of the lineages were recognized in the past as infrageneric
assemblages. A treatment of Senecio by T. M.
Barkley (1978) reflected the traditional circumscription of the genus; a narrower circumscription is used here. Present concepts, plus a catalogue
of genera, were presented by Barkley (1999) .The "species-groups" recognized here are given names
purely as a matter of convenience; the groups and their names are intentionally given no formal taxonomic
status (T. M. Barkley 1978) . Some of the groups may represent natural evolutionary alliances
; that remains to be clarified.The following taxa are not established
members
of the flora
but are nonetheless noteworthy:Senecio brasiliensis (Sprengel) Lessing var. tripartitus (de Candolle) Baker is a South American weed
of disturbed
sites, introduced
on the Gulf
Coast near Pensacola, Florida, in 1893-1894. Its presence was discussed by J. M. Greenman (1917) and by L. J. Uttal (1982), both of whom treated it as Senecio canabinaefolius Hooker & Arnott. It is toxic
to livestock; it seems not to have persisted in the flora.Senecio bicolor (Willdenow) Viviani (S. cineraria de Candolle) is one of the plants
called "dusty miller" in the horticultural trade. It occasionally persists in the flora after cultivation.Species of the African genus Euryops are commonly cultivated in California and Florida and, to a lesser extent, in other warm areas of the flora. They would key
here to Senecio. They are shrubs with leaves dissected
or prominently toothed, phyllaries connate
for the proximal
third of their lengths
, and yellow corollas. Apparently none persist for long after cultivation.Relatively recent collections from low-lying (50-100 m
), seasonally wet, disturbed areas in Orange and San Diego counties, California, have included
semi-weedy perennial herbs or subshrubs 100-200 cm that are initially arachnose to tomentose, soon glabrescent, and have oblanceolate to linear or filiform leaves (2-7 cm), notably small heads in corymbiform arrays, ± 13 phyllaries 3-4 mm, and 7-8 ray florets with corolla laminae 2-3 mm.
G. L. Nesom (pers. comm.
) has suggested that these plants are Senecio linearifolius A. Richard, a native
of Australia and Tasmania.References to shapes, sizes, bases, margins, induments
, etc.
, of "leaves" in keys and descriptions
refer to principal (largest, most conspicuous
) leaves at flowering unless otherwise indicated.[1]
Physical Description
Species Senecio bigelovii
Perennials
, (20-) 40-80(-120) cm (caudices fibrous-rooted).
Herbage usually floccose-tomentose to glabrescent
, sometimes
glabrous
. Stems single or loosely clustered. Leaves
progressively reduced distally; petiolate
(proximal
) ; blades
ovate
to lanceolate, 7-15 × (1-) 2-5 cm, bases
contracted
or tapered,
margins
subentire
or serrate to dentate
(mid and distal leaves similar,
sessile, bractlike, often clasping
). Heads nodding
(especially
when young), (1-) 3-12(-20) in racemiform
or paniculiform
arrays
(terminal
heads
often largest). Calyculi of 4-10 linear
bractlets
(lengths
mostly 1 / 3 - 1 / 2 phyllaries, sometimes 1 or 2 equaling
phyllaries). Phyllaries ± 13 or ± 21, 6-12 mm,
tips
green. Ray florets 0. Cypselae glabrous. 2n
= 40. [source]
The two varieties of Senecio bigelovii are distinguished by
morphologic tendencies and by geography. [source]
Habit: Forb/herb
Flowers: Bloom Period: June, July, August. • Flower Color: yellow
Size/Age/Growth
Size: 12-18" tall.
Biology
Reproduction
Duration: Perennial
Growth
Culture: Space 9-12" apart.
Soil: Prefers light, rich, moist organic soil.
Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade.
Temperature: Cold Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b. (map)
Taxonomy
- Domain:
Eukaryota
(
)
- Whittaker & Margulis,1978
- eukaryotes
- Kingdom:
Plantae
(
)
- Haeckel, 1866
- Plants
- Subkingdom:
Viridaeplantae
(
)
- Cavalier-Smith, 1981
- Phylum:
Tracheophyta
(
)
- Sinnott, 1935 ex Cavalier-Smith, 1998
- Vascular Plants
- Subphylum:
Euphyllophytina
(
)
- Class:
Magnoliopsida
(
)
- Brongniart, 1843
- Dicotyledons
- Subclass:
Asteridae
(
)
- Takhtajan, 1967
- Superorder:
Campanulanae
(
)
- Takhtajan Ex Reveal, 1992
- Order:
Asterales
(
)
- Lindley, 1833
- Family:
Compositae
(
)
- Giseke, 1792, nom. cons., nom. alt.
- Subfamily:
Asteroideae
(
)
- Tribe:
Senecioneae
(
)
- Subtribe:
Senecioninae
(
)
- Genus:
Senecio
(
)
- C. Linnaeus, 1753
- Groundsel, ragwort, butterweed [reputedly from Latin senex, old man or woman, alluding to the white pappus bristles resembling the white hair of an elderly person]
- Specific epithet:
bigelovii
- A.Gray
- Botanical name: - Senecio bigelovii A.Gray
- Specific epithet:
bigelovii
- A.Gray
- Genus:
Senecio
(
- Subtribe:
Senecioninae
(
- Tribe:
Senecioneae
(
- Subfamily:
Asteroideae
(
- Family:
Compositae
(
- Order:
Asterales
(
- Superorder:
Campanulanae
(
- Subclass:
Asteridae
(
- Class:
Magnoliopsida
(
- Subphylum:
Euphyllophytina
(
- Phylum:
Tracheophyta
(
- Subkingdom:
Viridaeplantae
(
- Kingdom:
Plantae
(
Synonyms
Ligularia bigelovii (A. Gray) W. A. Weber
Notes
Name
Status: Accepted Name
.
Comment: Data Providers: IPNI, Tropicos. GCC LSID: urn
:lsid:compositae.org:names:6C2DB06D-0BDF-4267-BEEC-926899453EDA
Last scrutiny: 16-Aug-09
Similar Species
Members of the genus Senecio
ZipcodeZoo has pages for 174 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:
Myrica pennsylvanica (Northern Bayberry) · Myrica pensylvanica 'Morton' (Silver Sprite Bayberry) · S. acaulis (Senecio) · S. actinella (Flagstaff Ragwort) · S. amplectens (Alpine Groundsel) · S. amplectens holmii (Holm's Groundsel) · S. amplectens var. amplectens (Showy Alpine Ragwort) · S. amplectens var. holmii (Holm's Groundsel) · S. ampullaceus (Texas Groundsel) · S. angulatus (Climbing Groundsel) · S. anteuphorbium (Senecio) · S. aphanactis (Chaparral Ragwort) · S. aquaticus (Water Ragwort) · S. arborescens (Estrella) · S. arizonicus (Arizona Ragwort) · S. aronicoides (Rayless Ragwort) · S. articulatus (Candle Plant) · S. aschenborianus (Senecio) · S. astephanus (San Gabriel Ragwort) · S. atratus (Tall Blacktip Ragwort) · S. aurea (Golden Groundsel) · S. ballyi (Senecio) · S. bellidioides (Alpine Groundsel) · S. bicolor (Silver Ragwort) · S. bicolor cineraria (Dusty Miller) · S. bigelovii (Nodding Groundsel) · S. bigelovii Gray var. hallii Gray (Nodding Ragwort) · S. bigelovii var. bigelovii (Biglow's Ragwort) · S. bigelovii var. hallii (Hall's Ragwort) · S. blochmaniae (Dune Ragwort) · S. bolanderi var. bolanderi (Bolander's Ragwort) · S. californicus (California Ragwort) · S. cannabifolius (Aleutian Ragwort) · S. cannabinifolius (Hempleaf Ragwort) · S. cineraria 'Cirrus' (Cirrus Dusty Miller) · S. cineraria 'Silver Dust' (Dusty Miller) · S. clarkianus (Clark's Ragwort) · S. clivorum (Summer Ragwort) · S. confusus 'Sao Paulo' (Mexican Flame Vine) · S. congestus (Clustered Marsh Ragwort) · S. crassifolius (Senecio) · S. crassissimus (Vertical Leaf Senecio) · S. crassulus (Meadow Groundsel) · S. cristobalensis (Senecio) · S. cylindricus (Senecio) · S. dangarensis (Largescaled Rasbora) · S. deflersii (Pickle Plant) · S. dimorphophyllus var. dimorphophyllus (Splitleaf Groundsel) · S. dryadens (Longnose Tapirfish) · S. elegans (Purple Groundsel) · S. elmeri (Elmer's Ragwort) · S. eremophilus (Desert Groundsel) · S. eremophilus var. eremophilus (Desert Ragwort) · S. eremophilus var. kingii (Ragwood Groundsel) · S. eremophilus var. macdougalii (Macdougal's Groundsel) · S. ertterae (Ertter's Ragwort) · S. erucifolius (Hoary Ragwort) · S. erucifolius erucifolius (Hoary Groundsel) · S. eurycephalus Torr. & A.Gray var. eurycephalus Torr. & A.Gray ex A.Gray (Widehead Groundsel) · S. eurycephalus var. eurycephalus (Siskiyou Ragwort) · S. ficoides (Senecio) · S. flaccidus (Douglas Senecio) · S. flaccidus var. douglasii (Douglas' Groundsel) · S. flaccidus var. flaccidus (Threadleaf Groundsel) · S. flaccidus var. monoensis (Green Groundsel) · S. fremontii (Dwarf Mountain Ragwort) · S. fremontii var. blitoides (Dwarf Mountain Ragwort) · S. fremontii var. fremontii (Dwarf Mountain Ragwort) · S. fremontii var. inexpectatus (Dwarf Mountain Ragwort) · S. fremontii var. occidentalis (Dwarf Mountain Ragwort) · S. glastifolius (Holly-Leaved Senecio) · S. gunnii (Mountain Fireweed) · S. haworthii (Senecio) · S. herreanus (String of Beads Cactus) · S. herreianus (Gooseberry) · S. hispidulus (Hispid Fireweed) · S. hybridus (Common Ragwort) · S. hydrophiloides (Tall Groundsel) · S. hydrophilus (Alkali Marsh Groundsel) · S. hypoleucus (Pale Groundsel) · S. inaequidens (Narrow-Leaved Ragwort) · S. integerrimus (Columbia Ragwort) · S. integerrimus Nutt. var. exaltatus (Nutt.) Cronq. (Columbia Groundsel) · S. integerrimus var. exaltatus (Columbia Groundsel) · S. integerrimus var. integerrimus (Lambstongue Ragwort) · S. integerrimus var. major (Lambstongue Groundsel) · S. integerrimus var. ochroleucus (Paleyellow Ragwort) · S. integerrimus var. scribneri (Scribner's Ragwort) · S. jacobaea (Ragwort) · S. jacobaea dunensis (Ragwort) · S. jacobaea jacobaea (Ragwort) · S. jacobsenii (Trailing Jade) · S. kirkii (Tree Daisy) · S. kleinia (Mountain Grass) · S. kleiniaeformis (Spear Head) · S. kleiniiformis (Spearhead) · S. lamarckianus (Bois De Ch) · S. lemmonii (Lemmon Groundsel) · S. linearifolius (Fireweed) · S. littoralis (Woolly Ragwort)
More Info
- Search for Pictures: images.google.com
- Search for Scholarly Articles: Google Scholar
- Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
- Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books
Further Reading
- Catalog of hymenoptera in America north of Mexico / prepared cooperatively by specialists on the various groups of Hymenoptera under the direction of Karl V. Krombein. .. [et al.]. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1979- url .
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 13 1909-1912 Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1890- url p. 224, p. 744.
- Flora of New Mexico / by E.O. Wooton and Paul C. Standley. Washington: G.P.O., 1915. url p. 744.
- Flora of New Mexico. By E.O. Wooton and Paul C. Standley. WashingtonGovt. Print. Off.1915 url p. 744.
- Great Basin naturalist memoirs. 1987 [Provo, Utah]Brigham Young University, 1976-1992. url p. 223.
- The Great Basin naturalist. 43 1983 Provo, Utah: M.L. Bean Life Science Museum, Brigham Young University, 1939-1999. url p. 330, p. 332, p. 63.
- The University of Colorado studies. Boulder, University of Colorado. url p. 178.
- The University of Kansas science bulletin. 42 1961 [Lawrence]: University of Kansas, 1902-1996. url p. 469.
- Ediger, R. I. 1970. Revision of section Suffruticosi of the genus Senecio (Compositae). Sida 3: 504-524.
Notes
Contributors
- Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-present. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Zwaag, The Netherlands. Accessed January 10, 2012.
Data Sources
Accessed through GBIF Data Portal February 02, 2008:
- Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri Botanical Garden
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Arizona State University Vascular Plant Herbarium
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, The Deaver Herbarium, Northern Arizona University
- USDA PLANTS, USDA PLANTS Database
- University of Colorado Museum, Zoological specimens
- Utah State University, USU-UTC Specimen Database
Identifiers
- Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2657670
- Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: Ast-11463
- GRIN Nomen Number: 452810
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 36103
- MoBot NameID: 2703112
- U.S.D.A. Plant Symbol: LIBIH SEBI
- Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 62426
Footnotes
- Theodore M. Barkley "Senecio". in Flora of North America Vol. 20 Page 540,541, 542, 543, 544, 545, 570, 615. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
